Formula

Introduction

In NocoBase, Formula calculates a field value from an expression.

It is suitable for amount calculations, score calculations, text concatenation, and conditional calculations. Its value is normally generated by an expression and is not suitable for manual entry. For complex calculations, use a workflow or database view.

Use cases

Formula fields are suitable for these business scenarios:

Amount calculations
Score calculations
Text concatenation
Conditional calculations

Create and configure

On the collection's Configure fields page, click Add field and select Formula to create this field.

Configure a Formula field

Setting	Description
Field interface	The field interface. Formula uses `formula`, which determines how the field is entered and displayed in pages.
Field display name	The name displayed for the field, such as `Order subtotal`, `Overall score`, or `Display name`. Use a name that business users can recognize.
Field name	The field identifier used internally by APIs, relation fields, permissions, and workflows. It usually cannot be changed after creation. It supports only letters, numbers, and underscores, and must begin with a letter.
Field type	The data-layer type. Formula uses `formula` by default.
Default value	The default value. When a new record has no value, NocoBase can fill this value automatically.
Validation rules	Validation rules. Confirm that the formula expression is complete and referenced fields exist.
Description	A field description. Record the field meaning, entry requirements, data source, or maintainer.

Note

Field names are referenced by page blocks, permissions, workflows, and APIs after creation. Confirm the name before creating the field to avoid later configuration changes.

Field behavior

The default behavior of a Formula field is as follows:

Behavior	Description
Default Field interface	`formula`.
Default Field type	`formula`.
Available Field types	`formula`.
Page component	Displays the result calculated from a formula expression.
Filtering	Filtering depends on the formula result and data-source capabilities.
Sorting	Supports sorting where the formula result type permits.
Validation	Confirm that the formula expression is complete and referenced fields exist.

Edit configuration

After creation, click Edit beside the field to edit its configuration. Edit fields to adjust how they are displayed and used in NocoBase, such as the display name, description, default value, validation rules, or field-specific settings.

When a field comes from a synchronized main-database table, editing usually maps the database field to a NocoBase Field type and Field interface.

Setting	Can be edited	Description
Field display name	Yes	Changes the name displayed in the interface without changing the field identifier.
Field name	No	The field identifier normally cannot be changed in the edit form after creation.
Field interface	Conditional	Main-database fields and synchronized fields can be adjusted during field mapping. Changes affect page input, display, and validation.
Field type	Conditional	Main-database fields and synchronized fields can be adjusted during field mapping. Confirm that existing values can be used by the new type first.
Default value	Yes	Adjusts the default value for new records.
Validation rules	Yes	Adjusts field validation rules.
Description	Yes	Adds the field meaning, entry requirements, data source, or maintainer.

Note

Changing a Field type or Field interface is more than changing a display name. It affects field storage, input components, validation rules, filters, and workflow-variable usage. When the field contains substantial existing data, confirm that its data format is compatible first.

Delete field

Click Delete beside a Formula field to delete it. You can also select multiple fields and delete them in the main data source.

Deleting a Formula field created in the main database usually also deletes the actual database column and its values. For a synchronized or external-data-source field, the impact depends on the corresponding data source and field origin.

Warning

Deleting a field can affect page blocks, forms, filters, permissions, workflows, APIs, imports and exports, and existing data. Confirm that the field is no longer referenced by business configuration before deleting it.

Use in pages

Formula fields are suitable for calculated values in pages, reports, and business logic.

Use a Formula field in a page

Scenario	Use
Details block	Display a calculated value.
Table block	Display and sort a formula result where supported.
Charts	Use a formula result for presentation.
Workflows and APIs	Read calculated values in business logic.

Fields - Learn about field categories and mapping.
General collection - Create and manage fields in a collection.

#Formula

#Introduction

#Use cases

#Create and configure

#Field behavior

#Edit configuration

#Delete field

#Use in pages

#Related links